It’s like my brain is set on making sure I hate this woman. But I stomp the thoughts away. She might’ve had him once, but she doesn’t now.
“Sure. I can’t stay long, though. My husband is with the kids, and the terrible twos have a whole new meaning when it comes to our youngest. I’m not sure if it’s a boy thing or a third child thing, but he’s like the Energizer Bunny. He never stops. Yesterday, I turned away for two seconds, and when I turned back, he’d drawn on the wall with a Sharpie.” She follows me through the house as she prattles on.
It's nice, really. Her chatter helps to ease some of my anxiety.
In the kitchen, she sets the cupcakes on the counter. “I’m really sorry to hear about your house.”
I lift one shoulder. “It is what it is.”
Ugh, there they are again. Those five annoying words.
“Still sucks.” She slides onto a stool and rests her forearms on the counter. “And…” She winces. “I have to admit, I had a bit of an ulterior motive for coming over here.”
“Oh?” I drop the pasta in the rapidly boiling water, willing my heart to remain steady. “What would that be?”
“Caleb likes you.” She says it slowly, carefully, like she’s placing a bomb between us.
I blink. That’s it? By the caution, I expected something scandalous.
“I know.”
She sits up straighter, surprise flickering over her face. “You do?”
“Yes.” I pull another pan out of the cabinet and then snag the meat from the fridge. “We’ve discussed our mutual interest.” Once the meat is sizzling on the stove, I turn and wash my hands, avoiding her gaze.
“Caleb is a really good guy,” she says behind me. “The best. He has a big heart and he deserves to be happy.” When I turn, I find she’s wearing an almost sad expression. “I hope you’ll give him a chance.”
I crinkle my nose.
Is she trying to wingman her ex?
“You divorced him,” I say, trying to keep my tone even. “But you’re over here singing his praises. Why?”
Despite my efforts, the question comes out sounding more combative than I intend, but I can’t take it back now.
She winces. “Yes, I divorced him, but the situation was far from typical.” She traces her fingers around a swooping line in the countertop.
“Explain.”
I haven’t asked Caleb for details. His marriage isn’t any of my business. But if she’s come all the way over here to talk to me about him, then I will press for details. It’s best to be prepared with all the facts, and I can’t help but be curious about her perspective of what went down between them. Caleb says he’s over her and has moved on, but I can’t help but wonder how she views the situation.
“Let me text my husband and let him know I’m going to be a little later than planned.”
I set an onion on a cutting board and search for a knife. “It’s that kind of story?”
“Oh, yeah.” Her fingers fly across her phone’s screen. Once she’s hit send, she sets it on the counter, strides around the island, and pulls a wineglass from a cabinet. She procures a bottle of wine next, silently holding it up in question. When I shake my head, she fills her glass, then sits down and begins her tale.
“Caleb and I were high school sweethearts, though I hate that term.” She takes a careful sip of wine while I chop the onion into fine pieces. “Thayer moved in the summer after our senior year.” She nods in the direction of her house, then sets her glass down. “This is my childhood home.”
My breath gets caught in my throat. Herwhat?
“Caleb didn’t buy this housebecause of me,” she says, clearly picking up on my shock. “After my mom passed away, my sister and I wanted to sell it. Caleb wanted to be close to Seda, so it made sense.”
“He loves her a lot.” I use my knife to slide the onions into the pan, then mix them in with the browning beef.
“He’s an amazing father.” She taps her fingers on the side of the glass. “Anyway, Thayer and I had this instant connection. It was more intense than anything I’d ever experienced. We were drawn to each other in a way that was impossible to fight, even though he’s more than ten years older than me.” She takes another sip of the wine, a larger one than the last, then gives me a sad smile. “I would watch his son sometimes, and Thayer and I gradually got close. Though it wasn’t our intention, we fell in love.”
She wipes at an invisible speck on the counter and clears her throat.
